Arborgen Tree Seedlings Treelines May 2022 2Nd Edition

Planting Advanced Seedling Genetics – Is it Worth It?

Choosing the right seedling to meet your goals can be confusing and frustrating without clear, objective information. Is paying more for advanced genetics worth the investment?

Once only available to large companies, today’s genetic options, including MCP®, ArborGen’s state-of-the-art hybrids, offer landowners the opportunity to be profitable in up and down timber markets. It’s not a decision to be made lightly – the choices you make now have a 20-25 year consequence.

Will what you plant today pay off in the future?

Machine Planted Longleaf Seedlings

As pine breeding and technology have advanced, the opportunity to invest in seedlings with more height, volume gain, and greater disease resistance provide the flexibility to sell your timber to whatever market is “hot.” An additional investment in planting advanced genetics and good site preparation increases the landowner’s revenue AND peace of mind. If you could invest $50 today and get $500 in return, would you consider that a good investment?

At ArborGen, we have a selection of both bareroot and containerized seedlings with increasing levels of genetic improvement. We can help landowners and consultants answer the questions about the value of advanced genetics investment. Our proprietary Seedling Revenue Calculator (see video below) can provide the potential revenue associated with each level of genetics. Contact our Reforestation Advisors to help you determine the best seedling for your land based on your particular goals. Let them show you data and the return on the investment you make.

What can you expect in the first few years of growth of MCP®?

Hear Perry Clements, Forestry Consultant for Rozier & Associates, share his experience with MCP and what you can expect over the first few years of growth.

Seedling Revenue Calculator

One question we are frequently asked when customers are considering seedlings for reforestation is, “How much is this going to cost?”

Of course, any seedling choice needs appropriate site prep for successful growth. Without that, no seedling has the opportunity to reach its full genetic potential.

When looking at seedling options, try not to focus on just cost. Think of it as an investment.

To help you understand the increased return for each dollar of additional investment in improved genetics, ArborGen has developed a tool based on industry models and cashflow analysis to help you see the value of the investment in your selection.

Our seedling calculator (see video above) demonstrates scenarios in which each increase in your seedling investment yields an increase in revenue.

During a recent visit to a customer, we discussed the advantages of each level of seedling genetic improvement and used the calculator to quickly demonstrate the cost difference and revenue increase in the scenarios he gave me. Each of these scenarios revealed he was able to capture increased revenue moving to higher genetics (estimated at the time of thinning and final harvest).

To learn more about our Seedling Calculator Tool, schedule a private demo using the tool at the link below.

Need a trusted partner to guide the way?
Get in touch with a Reforestation Advisor to explore your options!
Austin Heine

Austin Heine

North Carolina and Virginia


910-660-3209

Greg Hay

Greg Hay

Arkansas, Northern Louisiana, and Oklahoma


501-350-4217

Shannon Stewart

Shannon Stewart

Eastern Texas, Southern Louisiana

936-239-6189

Paul Jeffreys, Ph.d.

Paul Jeffreys, Ph.D.

Alabama & Mississippi

Manager Special Projects & Sustainability
205-712-9582

Drew Fasano

Drew Fasano

Reforestation Advisor
South Carolina
843-520-6865

Blake Sherry

Blake Sherry

Reforestation Advisor
Georgia and Florida

912-433-5407

Kylie Burdette

Kylie Burdette

U.S. Sales Manager

864-650-4454

Jason Watson

Jason Watson

Director, U.S. Sales

404-840-7489